1 in 3 Singapore youths experienced severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress: IMH study

Summary

A recent study by the Institute of Mental Health reveals alarming statistics on mental health issues among Singaporean youth. Approximately one in three young individuals report experiencing severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. The study identifies key contributing factors, including excessive social media usage, cyberbullying, and body image concerns. Despite these challenges, many youths are seeking support from family, friends, and mental health professionals, while societal efforts aim to destigmatize mental health discussions. The findings emphasize the need for early intervention and community-based mental health strategies to effectively support the younger population.

Highlights

• One in three Singapore youths report severe mental health symptoms 🧠
• Anxiety is the most common issue, affecting about one in four young individuals 😟
• Key risk factors include cyberbullying and excessive social media usage 📱
• Social support plays a crucial role in managing mental health symptoms 🤝
• Two-thirds of affected youths seek help, primarily from family and friends 👥
• Initiatives to destigmatize mental health could boost help-seeking behavior 🗣️

Key Takeaways

• Approximately one in three Singaporean youths report severe symptoms of mental health issues 🧠
• Excessive social media use, cyberbullying, and body image issues are notable risk factors for mental distress 📱
• Building strong social support networks can mitigate the impact of mental health challenges 🤝
• Early intervention and community-focused strategies are crucial to addressing youth mental health in Singapore 🏥
• Destigmatizing mental health conversations can encourage more youths to seek help 🗣️

Overview

The Institute of Mental Health in Singapore conducted a comprehensive study focusing on the mental well-being of young individuals aged 15 to 35. This study highlighted a worrying trend: nearly one in three respondents reported severe disease symptoms, with anxiety being the most prevalent. Depression and stress also represented significant portions of the mental health landscape, signaling a pressing need for targeted interventions.

Central to the emergent issues are specific risk factors identified by the study. Youths experiencing cyberbullying, those with concerns about their body image, and those heavily engaged with social media are particularly vulnerable. These platforms often exacerbate issues like anxiety and stress, making digital wellness a crucial area for intervention. Fortunately, social support networks significantly buffer against these adverse effects, helping youths manage their mental health better.

The societal approach towards youth mental health is shifting significantly. Efforts to destigmatize mental health discussions aim to make it easier for young people to seek the help they need without fear of judgment. Meanwhile, the knock-on effects of such studies have prompted governmental and educational bodies to enhance mental health resources, advocating for community-level support systems and early intervention strategies to fortify the resilience of young Singaporeans.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Study Findings The chapter 'Introduction to Study Findings' outlines key results from a mental health study conducted on youths in Singapore. The study discovered that approximately one-third of the participants experienced severe or extremely severe symptoms of mental health issues, specifically depression, anxiety, or stress. The survey was conducted by The Institute of Mental Health and included face-to-face interviews with 2,600 individuals aged between 15 and 35 years. Notably, anxiety was the most prevalent condition, reported by one in four participants, followed by depression, affecting one in seven of the surveyed youths.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Factors Contributing to Mental Health Issues This chapter identifies key demographic groups that are most susceptible to mental health issues. It highlights three main factors: experiencing cyberbullying, having moderate to severe concerns about body image, and spending over three hours on social media daily. Additionally, the chapter points out other contributing factors such as smoking, vaping, and adverse childhood experiences like trauma or divorce as linked to severe mental health symptoms.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Complexity of Mental Health Risks The complexity of mental health risks involves an interplay between severe symptoms and risk/protective factors. While severe symptoms of depression or anxiety increase the risk of developing a mental disorder, supportive environments can mitigate these risks. With strong social support from parents, schools, and friends, individuals with severe symptoms may cope effectively and not suffer long-term effects.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Help-Seeking Behaviors and Stigma The chapter discusses the relationship between mental health and various personal attributes such as resilience, perceived social support, and self-esteem. It highlights that individuals with higher levels of these attributes are less likely to experience negative symptoms. Regarding help-seeking behaviors, the study reveals that about two-thirds of participants reached out for help, commonly approaching family and friends, and 58% also sought professional advice. A significant barrier to seeking help identified is the concern over societal stigma and the fear of judgment from others.
• 02:00 - 03:00: Role of Educators and Social Media This chapter discusses the role of educators in addressing mental health issues among the youth and the influence of social media on young people's development. Educators believe that reducing the stigma around mental health discussions could encourage more young people to seek help. However, they are concerned about the content consumed by youths on social media, which may not always be beneficial for their overall development. The challenge for educators is establishing guidelines to manage the impact of social media.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Parental Observation and Intervention This chapter addresses the complexities and challenges associated with modern social media usage, especially among younger generations like Generation Z and the Alpha Generation who have grown up with these platforms. The chapter emphasizes the importance of open conversations involving educators, schools, and society about the purpose and impact of social media. It also highlights measures taken by platforms, such as TikTok, that restrict account access to users who are 13 years old and above.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Community and National Mental Health Strategies This chapter discusses the strategies used within communities and at a national level to address mental health issues. It highlights measures such as limiting screen time for children to 60 minutes per day, a feature implemented across various platforms including YouTube, where parents can set timers on their child's profile. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the importance of initiating conversations about mental health as a crucial step in supporting those who are in need.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Interview with Experts on Study Insights The chapter discusses how parents can identify signs of poor mental health in their children. It emphasizes the importance of early intervention and provides resources to help parents support their child's mental well-being.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Gender Differences in Mental Health Issues The chapter focuses on gender differences in mental health issues, emphasizing the importance of early detection and intervention of mental health symptoms in communities. It mentions a national strategy launched by the health ministry, aimed at improving mental health care through a tiered care model. This approach is designed to extend care to the community level, providing targeted assistance to those most in need, as part of a comprehensive national effort to address youth mental health challenges in a multifaceted manner.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Barriers to Seeking Help The chapter discusses the societal challenges and barriers that individuals face when seeking mental health support. It emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where people feel comfortable asking for help. The discussion includes insights from Dr. Swapna Verma, an associate professor and co-principal investigator of a related study, along with Lee Yi Ping, the programme lead at the Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health.

1 in 3 Singapore youths experienced severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress: IMH study Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 A mental health study on youths in Singapore  has found that about one in three reported   experiencing severe or extremely severe symptoms  of depression, anxiety or stress. The research   led by The Institute of Mental Health involved  face-to-face interviews with 2,600 people aged   between 15 and 35 years old - here's a breakdown.  Anxiety was the most common, about one in   four reported having this symptom. For depression  the figure was one in seven. One in eight reported feeling
• 00:30 - 01:00 stressed. But who are most susceptible? There  are three main ones: Those who went through cyberbullying, had moderate to severe concerns about  their body shape, or spend more than three hours   daily on social media were more likely to report  these symptoms. Other factors like smoking, vaping   and adverse childhood experiences like trauma or  divorce were also found to be linked to severe
• 01:00 - 01:30 or extremely severe symptoms of depression or  anxiety. There is definitely an increased risk   of them developing a mental disorder, but it's a  complex interplay. It's an interplay between these   severe symptoms as well as risk and protective  factors. So let's say somebody had very severe   symptoms but has amazing social support - parents  are very supportive, school is supportive, friends   are supportive, the likelihood is that they will be  able to deal with this stress and they will be   able to emerge on the other side with no longlasting problems.
• 01:30 - 02:00 Those with higher levels of resilience, perceived social support, and self-esteem were less likely to experience   these symptoms. In terms of seeking help, the  study found that about two in three did so   and most approached family and friends. About  58% or some also sought professional advice.   As for those who did not seek help, one reason  is the worry of what others may think of them.
• 02:00 - 02:30 Educators say destigmatising conversations around  mental health could encourage more youths to step   forward. Sabrina Ng with more. Young people glued to their phones, checking what's out there on social media. Educators say the concern is whatever that's  being consumed may not help in overall development.   The biggest challenge for educators or schools  (is) to kind of put a rule and say
• 02:30 - 03:00 don't use social media. Because the  current generation, let it be Generation Z or   the Alpha Generation are the generations that  literally grew up with social media. So I think   that can be a huge challenge but I think, again,  educators and schools or even society to have   that comfortable conversation on what is the  purpose of social media. Platforms like TikTok have put measures in place. Only those 13 years old and above can have an account. Those
• 03:00 - 03:30 below 18 are limited to 60 minutes screen time  daily. A similar feature is also in place for   YouTube, which allows parents to set a timer on  their child's profile. Beyond curbing screen time,   opening up conversations around mental  health is key for those in need.
• 03:30 - 04:00 Parents should try and see if their child is  displaying symptoms of poor mental health and   intervene early. Resources are available to them  to cover topics on how to help their child cope.
• 04:00 - 04:30 Researchers say findings show that there is a  need to address and detect mental health symptoms   in the community early on. Till the end, the health  ministry had launched a national mental health and   well-being strategy last year, as part of it was a  proposed tiered care model, which means that care can   be trickled down to the community level and help  those who need it the most. Ultimately, this   is part of a whole-of-Singapore effort to tackle  the multifaceted nature of youth mental health
• 04:30 - 05:00 and to build a society where they feel comfortable  coming forth to seek help. And for more on this, we have associate professor Swapna Verma, who is the co-principal investigator of the study, and Lee Yi Ping   the programme lead at the Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health or CHAT. Dr Swapna, firstly thank   you so much for joining us on Singapore Tonight.  Thank you for having us. Dr Swapna, we can
• 05:00 - 05:30 start with you - looking at the three key factors  identified in this study as causes, we're looking   at excessive social media use, body image concerns  and cyberbullying. How are all of them linked to a   young person's mental health? So, as we mentioned,  we were looking at risk and protective factors and   we had questionnaires that looked at all the  three - cyberbullying, body image disturbance as   well as social media use - and we would need to  do further analysis to look at the link between
• 05:30 - 06:00 the three of them, but intuitively it makes sense.  There seems to be a link and even research has   shown that especially those who spend excessive  time on social media, the feeds that come in - because social media the feeds are meant  to make you addicted - and there are feeds on   extreme body shapes, extreme diets and that has  an effect on people's body image. Similarly
• 06:00 - 06:30 there are links between cyberbullying and body  image, especially in women. There are a lot of    trollings and things that go on on body image, so  they are linked in different ways. It's not   a cause and effect, there's an association, which can be bidirectional. So people who are   more sensitive or more anxious, they turn to social  media for support as well and then when they have   these cyberbullying incidents, it further affects their  mental health. As we study the
• 06:30 - 07:00 connections more in depth, when it comes to social  media, it has had such a profound impact on our   lives - the way we share information, the  way we communicate with others, but when is screen   use deemed excessive? So in our questionnaire, it was a fairly detailed questionnaire where they   had to identify which social media they use, how  much time they spent, for what purposes they went
• 07:00 - 07:30 on social media, but we focused on the time they  spent and we used a cut-off of three (hours), because   international studies had shown that more than  three is deemed as excessive social media use.   We did find that association of those who spend more than three   hours per day had more likelihood of developing  depressive symptoms or anxiety symptoms. So not more
• 07:30 - 08:00 than 3 hours every day yeah, that's modation. Okay,  Ms Lee, let's bring you in here. When a young   person comes to CHAT for help, what are some of  the common symptoms that they display and how do   you address them? So some of the common symptoms  would include mood difficulties, like feeling low,   feeling sad, feeling anxious or maybe just stressed  with whatever situations that they may be   facing at a point in time, which could be related  to relationships with family, friends or
• 08:00 - 08:30 even just with others in general. And  in terms of how we help them, I think a lot of the   young people when they reach out to CHAT, most of  the time it is their first time speaking to a   professional and so it's really important that  we make sure that they have a safe space to speak   to us and that we allow them to take their time  to fully express what may be going on in their   experiences and towards the end really help them  gain that clarity and awareness of what's really   going on, what are the options available that they  can take in terms of reclaiming their well-being
• 08:30 - 09:00 and also not forgetting to remind them that they have certain qualities and strengths that   have pulled them through, in a way giving them hope  that this is just the first step and nudging   them to take on the next step in terms of seeking  further support. And very quickly, the participants   of the study, they are aged between 15 and 35  years old. How do mental health issues affect   young men and young women differently? How do they vary across the different age
• 09:00 - 09:30 groups and the gender and the different  backgrounds? So from our study we found   that anxiety seems to be more prevalent in  women. Anxiety. Body image is also   more prevalent in women. So there are  some gender differences that we see. In CHAT we do   see that actually more young women seek help, they  are more help seeking and they come to seek help   whereas I think men can be more reticent or  less likely to seek help also. And when we talk
• 09:30 - 10:00 about support networks, the importance  of support networks, we think about teachers, we   think about families and friends but one of the  common reasons why youths chose not to seek help   was the perception that specialists cannot help  them with their mental health issues. Why is this   the case? I think sometimes young people struggle  to understand - is this truly serious? Do I need to
• 10:00 - 10:30 seek help? They feel maybe it's just growing  up pains and I'll get over them. So there is   that almost reticence of fear that, am I exaggerating, should I really seek help   and then where do I go? Do I need to see  a specialist? When I see a specialist, cost   is a concern, confidentiality is a concern, so that  could be some of the barriers to seeking help over here.  Dr Swapna, Ms Lee, I'm afraid we  have run out of time, this is such
• 10:30 - 11:00 an important topic to to talk about, but thank  you so much for coming in to Singapore Tonight.   That was associate professor Swapna Verma  and Lee Yi Ping from the Institute of Mental Health.